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Review

2005
Subaru
Outback Review

Subaru wagons and sedans are sturdy vehicles with a long list of additional features, making them ideal family vehicles or off-road explorers.

Reviewed by Automotive on
12/18/2005

Overview

Subaru first introduced the Outback wagon as a trim on its Legacy lineup in 1995. It remained so until 2000, when it was initially released on its own and has continued to expand since then. In 2001, the Outback extended its line with the L.L. Bean Edition, VDC wagons, and a Limited sedan. The new versions were 3.0-liter, six-cylinder vehicles with four-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions and 212 horsepower (hp).

The Subaru Outback is known as a more interesting take on traditional sport utility vehicles (SUVs), boasting all their capabilities and more. The Outback is a worthy selection among the competition.

What's New

The 2005 Outback includes such major improvements as a more powerful H6 motor, a turbo-charged engine, more stylish interiors, and higher ground clearance.

Exterior

The 2.5i and 2.5i Limited trims have 16-inch alloy wheels, all-season tires, a roof rack, cargo tie-downs, rear wipers, and a rear spoiler. The 2.5 XT and 2.5 XT Limited feature 17-inch alloy wheels, rear wipers, and a spoiler. The 3.0 R L.L. Bean Edition model and 3.0 R VDC Edition are the same as the XT, but have a power glass sunroof. The 3.0 R Sedan also has a glass sunroof.

Interior

The Subaru Outback 2.5i features front cloth bucket seats and leather seats in the 2.5i Limited. Other features include a driver’s seat with eight-way power, multi-level heating, and lumbar support, a front storage console, split-folding back seats, remote power locks, windows and mirrors with heat, power steering, cruise control, overhead console storage, an external temperature display, remote trunk release, air conditioning, an AM/FM radio, a CD player, six speakers, and two power outlets (front and rear).

The 2.5i Limited includes a leather steering wheel and shift knob, a trip computer, and a clock. The 2.5 XT has cloth sport front seats, while the 2.5 XT Limited features an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, both of which are outfitted in leather and include heating and lumbar support. The 2.5 XT Limited also includes a leather steering wheel and shift knob, trunk release, a trip computer, a center armrest in rear, turn signals in mirrors, an AM/FM radio, and a six-CD player with six speakers.

The upscale VDC featured a power glass sunroof, leather bucket seats, an eight-way driver’s seat with heat and lumbar support, simulated wood on the doors, dash and center console, leather on the steering wheel and shift knob, a cargo net and more. The 2005 Subaru Outback has all of these features, and additional all-wheel drive, a turbo version of the 2.5-liter engine, and almost every power feature that a driver could want.

The Outback wagon provides a balanced ride and is easy to handle. As expected, the V-6 offers an extra oomph of power over the flat-four, making the 3.0 editions quicker off the mark. Steering is responsive and stability is good on winding roads. These vehicles have increased ground clearance for better off-road capability.